Vaccination for hepatitis B started in 2002 resulting in the decline of malignant liver and liver cirrhosis but the incidence of hepatitis between four per cent to seven per cent of the country’s population is not comfortable, says HoD in-charge of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of AMC and King George Hospital L.R.S. Girinadh on Wednesday on the eve of World Hepatitis Day. Vaccination is a safe way to prevent hepatitis B from affecting a person. Since those born after 2002 have been vaccinated, those who are more than 14 years old must be vaccinated, he said.
Ten to 15 per cent of chronic hepatitis cases lead to liver cirrhosis and two per cent to five percent of the liver cirrhosis cases turn to cancer but even two per cent of the cases turning to cancer is high and vaccination could prevent this situation, Dr. Girinadh said.
Among the hepatitis varieties, B and C are caused by virus and are dangerous. They are transmitted due to blood transfusion, injection, sexual intercourse. Hepatitis B is also transmitted from mother to child at the time of birth. However, they can be treated and cost of drugs and treatment has come down. Hepatitis B vaccine is given in three doses and costs between Rs. 400 and Rs. 500 in the market. It is being given free of cost at the Gastroenterology Department on every Tuesday.
